Carcinoma erysipeloides refers to metastatic carcinoma (usually an adenocarcinoma) within dermal lymphatics that may be mistaken for erysipelas. The term is credited to Rasch in 1931 (Thorne and Evans).
Clinical features:
(1) The patient has a raised and erythematous skin lesion resembling erysipelas.
(2) Fever is absent.
(3) Adjacent lymph nodes may be enlarged.
(4) A biopsy shows the presence of metastastic carcinoma within dermal lymphatics.
The rash may be on the face, neck, chest, abdomen, or an extremity.
Tumors associated with carcinoma erysipeloides:
(1) breast (inflammatory carcinoma if present over breast)
(2) ovary
(3) lung
(4) thyroid
(5) urinary bladder
(6) gastric cancer
(7) malignant lymphoma
(8) prostate
(9) larynx
(10) skin adnexal tumor
(11) malignant melanoma
Differential diagnosis:
(1) erysipelas
(2) radiation dermatitis
(3) drug reaction
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